John Jervis

John Jervis (9 January 1735-14 March 1823) was a British admiral. He was a seasoned veteran of the Seven Years' War, American Revolutionary War, French Revolutionary Wars, and Napoleonic Wars, and defeated the Spanish at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent in 1797.

Biography
Intended by his family for the law, 13-year-old John Jervis ran away to sea. He saw action in the American Revolutionary War, but did not exercise high command until the French Revolutionary Wars. After leading an expedition to the West Indies, in 1795, he assumed command of the Mediterranean fleet, whose captains included Horatio Nelson.

On February 4, 1797, patrolling off Cape St. Vincent with 15 ships of the line, Jervis sighted a fleet of 27 Spanish ships. Undaunted by the disparity of numbers, he attacked. A complex set of maneuvers broke up the Spanish formation and it was savaged as the battle turned into a melee. Occurring at a low point in Britain's fortunes, the victory was greeted with enthusiasm and Jervis was ennobled as Earl of St. Vincent.

The Channel Fleet
At a time of widespread mutiny in the Royal Navy, Jervis maintained order in his fleet through strict discipline, and was as tough with his officers as his men. In 1799, he took command of theChannel fleet, which he reformed with the same bracing discipline, instituting a close blockade of the French coast that was a remarkable feat of seamanship and logistical organization. He was a vigorous but controversial First Lord of the Admiralty from 1801 to 1804.